“The Goldilocks Rule states that humans experience peak motivation when working on tasks that are right on the edge of their current abilities. Not too hard. Not too easy. Just right.”
The above figure explains that maximum motivation occurs when facing a challenge of just manageable difficulty. In psychology research this is known as the Yerkes–Dodson law, which describes the optimal level of arousal as the midpoint between boredom and anxiety/failure.
.
.
Elon Musk studied battery technology for more than a decade before starting Tesla. Twelve foolish publishers turned down J.K. Rowling's Harry Potter manuscript before someone agreed to pay her an advance of just £1,500 for the book that would become an international blockbuster.
Steve Martin’s comedy career is an excellent example of the Goldilocks Rule in practice. Each year, he expanded his comedy routine—but only by a minute or two. He was always adding new material, but he also kept a few jokes that were guaranteed to get laughs. There were just enough victories to keep him motivated and just enough mistakes to keep him working hard. When you’re starting a new habit, it’s important to keep the behavior as easy as possible so you can stick with it even when conditions aren’t perfect.
Two steps to motivation : If we want to break down the mystery of how to stay motivated for the long-term, we could simply say:
1. Stick to The Goldilocks Rule and work on tasks of just manageable difficulty.
2. Measure your progress and receive immediate feedback whenever possible.
Wanting to improve your life is easy. Sticking with it is a different story. If you want to stay motivated for good, then start with a challenge that is just manageable, measure your progress and repeat the process.
Credits :
1. “Atomic Habits” by James Clear
2. https://www.entrepreneur.com/article/279109
2. https://www.entrepreneur.com/article/279109
3. https://www.inc.com/jessica-stillman/follow-this-1-rule-to-maintain-peak-motivation.html